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The Sierra Leone Association for the Blind (SLAB) in collaboration with partners like the National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD) has pleaded for more opportunities for disable people in 2025.
Kabbakeh Noah, the Administrative Head of SLAB, reported that a significant number of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are failing to comply with the Persons with Disability Act of 2011. He noted that a small number of organizations are making an effort to comply by providing opportunities for individuals with disabilities, although some of them are not offering compensation for their work.
The Chairman of the NCPD, Vandy Konneh, expressed his support for Noah’s ideas and committed to implementing further reforms in 2025.
“The Commission is going to be radical next year,” the Chairman said. “We will profile persons with disability (PWDs) and radical place them in MDAs). He mentioned that this initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Human Resources Management Office (HRMO) next year.
Konneh highlighted that numerous institutions are failing to adhere to important provisions outlined in the 2011 Act, with a significant number lacking dedicated Disability Units.
“Even those with such units are not using them properly,” he said. He emphasized that the Commission will actively advocate for public and private facilities, including transportation, to be fully accessible for individuals with disabilities. “In 2025, no public vehicle should be registered without catering for PWDs,” he said.
A representative from the HRMO, Abubakarr Kamara, noted that while progress has been made, there are still opportunities for some government institutions to enhance their implementation of the provisions of the Act.
“Persons with Disability are equally persons with ability and must be selected (for jobs) based on their ability,” Kamara said. He added that PWDs should consider themselves useful and be ready to contribute to the growth of the nation. He noted that the HRMO are doing their best to provide quotas for PWDs in the civil service.
At the ceremony, several institutions participated, with the Bank of Sierra Leone taking a leading role. They expressed a commitment to fostering inclusivity by promising to offer opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs), contingent upon their qualifications.
